During the World Table Tennis Championships semifinal match between China and France, Felix Lebrun faced Wang Chuqin and experienced an emotional meltdown, later breaking down in tears after the match. Back in France, the world No. 4 explained his loss of composure on court.
In that semifinal, after three matches, China led 2-1. In the fourth match, Wang Chuqin, ranked No. 1 in the world, took on Lebrun, ranked No. 4. Lebrun lost 1-3, leading to France’s elimination. In his career, Lebrun has faced Wang Chuqin eight times and lost every single match.
After the match, Lebrun cried, trying to avoid the cameras but was still caught. Why did he cry? “Beating China has always been our ultimate challenge,” Lebrun explained. “I felt we were really close to winning, and that gap made it hard to accept. We dreamed of lifting the trophy, and losing to Wang Chuqin shattered that dream.”
He added, “Even though the bronze medal is precious, the dream just wasn’t realized.”
During the match, Lebrun, trailing behind, stomped his feet, jumped in place three times, and looked visibly frustrated. He also repeatedly hit his own head with his racket after losing points, nearing a breakdown.
Lebrun explained, “I’ve always been an expressive person. I need to release emotions during matches to stay fully committed. Given the situation, my emotional control wasn’t perfect. But sometimes, I need to do that, and I think it helps me.”
